The new Tono drinking water plant, built by the Belgian company Denys, is 96% complete. This was the conclusion of August 4^e, 2021 by Annelies De Beule, coordinator of the Tono drinking water project, after an inspection visit to the site.

The water treatment plant is the first phase of an ongoing drinking water supply project in the Upper East region. The facility will be capable of treating 10,000 m3 of water per day. The plant will be supplied by a water intake built on the Tono multipurpose dam. “67 km of pipes have been laid to bring drinking water from the factory to the towns of Navrongo, Bolgatanga, Tindonmolgo and Paga. Denys has already built 18 km of the planned 50 km distribution network, as well as an elevated reservoir at the Navrongo District Assembly (DA) with a capacity of 600 m³, ” explains the coordinator of the Tono drinking water project, which was launched in 2018.

Improve the supply of drinking water

The construction of these different facilities will cost 33.25 million euros. Funding is provided by the Ghanaian government with a loan from Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING) of Belgium, an international bancassurance financial institution of Dutch origin. This bank is also financing the second phase of the Tono drinking water project to the tune of more than 6.20 million euros, for a total of 42 million euros.

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This other part of the project is expected to be completed in 12 months. “Launched in January 2021, the second phase of the Tono drinking water project will see the laying of a 9 km transmission line to Zuarungu, 53 km of distribution pipes, a³ raised tank in Zuarungu, installation of 4,800 domestic connections and an improved connection in Bongo ”, said Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, Ghanaian deputy minister of water and sanitation.

The state-owned Ghana Water Company will operate the entire facility, which will have a combined capacity of 20,500 m³ per day. The project will benefit approximately 350,000 people in the Upper East region. Denys will also rehabilitate the old Voa drinking water plant, which will serve the community of Bongo and its surroundings with 400 standpipes.

Ines Magoum